Breaksea Island (Western Australia) facts for kids
Breaksea Island from the Flinders Peninsula to the south-west, near Albany
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| Coordinates | 35°03′50.34″S 118°03′42.03″E / 35.0639833°S 118.0616750°E |
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Breaksea Island is a cool island located in King George Sound, a bay in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. It's about 12 kilometers (or 7.5 miles) south-east of the city of Albany.
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About Breaksea Island
Breaksea Island is a special place that has been protected since 1969. It's officially a nature reserve, which means it's a safe home for plants and animals. The Department of Environment and Conservation helps look after it.
Size and Location
This island covers an area of about 103 hectares (that's about 254 acres). It stretches for 3 kilometers (nearly 2 miles) in length. At its widest point, Breaksea Island is about 600 meters (almost 2,000 feet) across. The closest island to Breaksea is Michaelmas Island, which is just 1.5 kilometers (about 1 mile) to the north.
History of Breaksea Island
Breaksea Island got its name from a famous explorer named George Vancouver. He visited the area in 1791 during his big Vancouver Expedition. He thought the island looked "beaten" by the ocean. He also noticed it offered good protection from strong south-westerly winds.
Early Discoveries
In April 1827, another important visitor, Major Edmund Lockyer, explored the island. People had thought Breaksea Island was just bare rock. But Major Lockyer found that it actually had several acres of soil! He also saw lots of wildlife, including seals, little penguins, sooty petrels, quail, and bronze-winged pigeons.
The Breaksea Island Lighthouse
A very important lighthouse stands on Breaksea Island. The first one was built way back in 1858. English convicts helped build it using pre-made iron sheets.
Modern Lighthouse
That first lighthouse was replaced in 1902 with a new one made of strong granite. This cylindrical tower is still in good shape today! In early 2020, it got a big update that took 21 weeks. This work was done by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to keep it working well. Lighthouses are super important for guiding ships safely around the coast.
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